Pad-skirt buckle for harness.



PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

W. A. HEISS.

PAD SKIRT BUCKLE FOR HARNESS.

v APPLIUATION FILED MAY 23, 1904.

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No MODEL.

@Xhlfmeoowo fbomamg UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

' WALTER A. HEISS, OF MORRISON, ILLINOIS.

PAD-SKIRT BUCKLE FOR HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,034., dated December 20, 1904. Application filed May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,227.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER A. Hnrss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morrison, in the county of WVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pad-Skirt Buckles for Harness; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to pad-skirt attachments for harnesses, and aims to provide a simple and flexible connection for uniting the trace-buckle and saddle-skirt and also the shoulder and rib straps when same are used. The use of my device also greatly lessens the amount of leather necessary to be used in securing the lower end of the saddle-skirt in place.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view showing a part of a harness embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of my device detached from the harness. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof with the end of the saddle-skirt in place therein. Fig; 4 shows a modification of my device. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the loop 4:.

Similar ordinals refer to similar parts I throughout the several views.

1 represents a portion of the usual trace, and 2 the trace-buckle thereon, to which is secured a buckle 3 by means of a metal loop 4, which passes around the upper bar of the buckle 2 and is hingeably secured to the buckle 3, as at a. The buckle 3 is provided with an outwardly-projecting stud 5 and raised bar 6. At one side of the buckle 3 and integral therewith is a loop 7, to which is secured one end of the shoulder-strap 8, and on the opposite side of said buckle is a similar loop 9, to which is fastened one end of the rib-strap 10.

11 represents the saddle-skirt, extending downwardly from the saddle or pad 12 and passing under the upper bar of the buckle 3,

which is projected slightly outward to permit the passage of such strap. The saddle-skirt is then secured by any one of a series of holes provided in the lower end thereof to the stud 5 and the projecting end held in place beneath the bar 6.

The loop 4 is preferably formed of sheet metal, which can be stamped in one piece and bent into the desired form, on account of the lessened costof manufacture. This loop is approximately U shape and has its closed-end portion increased in width, and to prevent the upward movement of the buckle 2 within the loop I I provide this widened portion on one side with small wings 13, which are bent inwardly around the upper bar of such buckle, Figs. 3 and 5. By this construction the opposite widened portion forms a shield for the inturned ends of the wings 13.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a form of my device wherein the side loops 7 and 9 are omitted, the attachment being used solely to furnish a flexible connection between the trace-buckle and saddle-skirt. This is one of the features which is of special advantage in my device.

It will be seen that the loop 4: provides a double hinge-joint, permitting movement or working of the several parts united by the attachment without any wear thereon. As heretofore used, a leather loop has been attached to the upper bar of the trace-buckle and the working of the harness soon caused the same to wear through.

As formerly constructed the end of the saddle-skirt has been run through a ring secured to the trace-buckle and doubled back upon itself, the end being secured by a buckle and several small leather loops being required to keep the doubled strap in position. By the use of my device a great deal of this material is saved. The attachment is also designed to be ornamental in pattern and an improvement to the general appearance of the harness.

If desired, the pad and pad-skirt may be removed and the other parts of the harness which are united by my device still be connected thereby.

between said loops, the lower side of said lastnamed buckle arranged between the free ends of said loop and being pivoted therein.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER A. HEISS.

Witnesses: I. L. WEAVER, J. M. MoGrEE. 

